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Comparison of rectal, axillary, and inguinal temperatures in full-term newborn infants
1College of Nursing, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark.
Insights
Comparing infant temperature measurements, this study found inguinal site readings closely reflect rectal temperatures. This suggests inguinal temperature monitoring may be a reliable alternative for neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Pediatric thermoregulation
- Clinical measurement techniques
Background:
- Accurate body temperature measurement is critical for neonatal care.
- Traditional methods like rectal thermometry can be invasive.
- Alternative, less invasive sites require validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the accuracy and reliability of inguinal, axillary, and rectal temperature measurements in term infants.
- To determine the correlation between different temperature measurement sites.
- To assess the influence of brown adipose tissue on temperature readings.
Main Methods:
- 120 full-term infants (12-48 hours old) participated.
- Rectal, axillary, and inguinal temperatures were measured sequentially.
- Readings were taken until stabilization (constant reading for 90 seconds).
Main Results:
- Temperature stabilization occurred within 5.5 minutes at all sites for 95% of infants.
- Mean differences: axillary-inguinal 0.6°F, rectal-inguinal 0.8°F, rectal-axillary 0.2°F.
- Rectal and inguinal readings showed the highest correlation despite the largest mean difference.
Conclusions:
- Inguinal temperature measurements are highly correlated with rectal temperatures in neonates.
- Inguinal site may be less affected by brown adipose tissue heat than other sites.
- Inguinal thermometry presents a potentially reliable and less invasive alternative for neonatal temperature monitoring.
Abstract:
Rectal, axillary, and inguinal temperatures were compared in 120 full-term infants aged 12 to 48 hours. Thermometers were placed in randomized sequential order and temperatures were recorded every 30 seconds until the reading remained constant for 90 seconds (stabilization). At least 95% of subjects reached temperature stabilization at all sites by 5 1/2 minutes. Mean difference between axillary and inguinal readings was 0.6 degrees F; between rectal and inguinal readings, 0.8 degrees F; and between rectal and axillary 0.2 degrees F. Although the greatest difference between mean temperature readings was found between the rectal and inguinal sites (0.8 degrees F), this pair of readings also had the highest correlation. This finding indicates that inguinal site temperatures are more reflective of rectal temperatures and may be less sensitive to effects of brown adipose tissue heat generation.